A jury convicted a man Friday of killing a friend over a missing cellphone, rejecting his self-defense claim.

Dannie S. Lee, 28, of Oklahoma City, was charged with first-degree murder in the May 24, 2011, shooting death of Marquis Lewis, 18, outside an apartment complex in the 5400 block of Willow Cliff Road.

Dannie Lee ( ??SP, in the archive as Danny) standing in the courtroom during his trial at the Oklahoma County Courthouse in Oklahoma City Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman

The Oklahoma County jury recommended life in prison with the possibility of parole as punishment. Lee is set to be sentenced Feb. 20 by District Judge Jerry D. Bass.

Lee said he acted in self-defense, telling jurors he felt threatened and accidentally shot Lewis when the latter reached for Lee's gun during a confrontation.

Lee asked Lewis and several guests to leave his apartment before the altercation after learning his girlfriend's phone was missing. Lee said Lewis cursed him and paced back and forth before getting “close enough to kiss me.” Lewis then pushed him before grabbing for the gun, the defendant testified.

“He had his hand on it, and I was trying to get it from him,” Lee said.

Prosecutors disagreed, arguing that Lee was the aggressor and shot Lewis seven times at close range because he felt angry, not threatened.

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by Tim Willert

Education Reporter

Tim Willert is a native Californian with Oklahoma ties who covers education. Prior to moving to Oklahoma in June 2011, he was as an editor for FOXSports.com in Century City, Calif., and reported on courts for the Los Angeles Daily Journal and...